Symptoms

What are the symptoms of neck pain?

The pain may be aching and constant in nature. It can also be described as cramping, stabbing or intermittent. The description of your pain is important because it can help your doctor find the cause.

If your nerves are involved in your neck pain, you may experience numbness, tingling, loss of sensation or weakness in your arms or legs.

What should I do if I have symptoms of neck pain?

Muscle strain or sprain is usually easy to self-diagnose. They typically occur after strenuous activity, overuse or incorrect posture that put excessive strain on your neck muscles. Pain usually improves within a few days to a couple of weeks. If the pain does not let up within a week or two, you should see a doctor to confirm the diagnosis. Your doctor will conduct an interview and physical examination. He may ask you specific questions regarding your pain, including onset, nature and triggering factors.

If you have the following signs and symptoms with neck pain, see your pain Physician/doctor immediately:

• Severe pain from an injury, e.g. car accident, fall etc. Severe pain over a bone may indicate a fracture.
• Shooting pain radiating to your shoulders or arms, or numbness and tingling in your fingers. Such pain may result from nerve irritation.
• Weakness in the arms or legs, difficulty walking, urinary retention or incontinence or change in bowel function may indicate injury to the spinal cord.